Bühler launches vocational fast track program to tackle global skills gap in manufacturing

SWITZERLAND – Swiss technology group Bühler has introduced a new vocational training initiative aimed at addressing global workforce challenges in the manufacturing and processing industries.

Launched at its flagship Networking Days 2025 in June, the Vocational Fast Track is a modular, Swiss-inspired apprenticeship program designed to upskill industrial workers rapidly.

The program allows Bühler’s customers to send employees for intensive training lasting several weeks or months.

Delivered at the company’s Energy Centre training facility, the curriculum integrates classroom instruction with hands-on learning in Bühler’s live production environments.

Trainees can specialise in Mechanics, Mechatronics, Project Management, and Process Technology, with all courses tailored to the operational needs of maintenance personnel and service technicians.

Each module culminates in a Swiss-recognised certificate, with Health & Safety training included according to Swiss regulatory standards.

“The Vocational Fast Track offers companies an unprecedented opportunity to build skills in a focused and efficient way. We bring the strengths of the Swiss dual education system, the close integration of theory and practice, into a compact and scalable format for industrial needs,” said Irene Mark-Eisenring, Chief Human Resources Officer at Bühler.

Bühler’s program arrives at a time when manufacturers worldwide face acute labour shortages, rapidly shifting job markets, and the rising cost of formal education.

In the U.S. alone, the manufacturing skills gap is projected to exceed one million unfilled positions, with nearly half of those in industrial trades. At the same time, college education can cost between US$26,000 and US$60,000 per year, pricing out many potential entrants to the workforce.

The Swiss dual education system, widely regarded as a global benchmark, could offer a solution. With 70% of Swiss students opting for apprenticeships and youth unemployment below 4%, the model is credited with producing a steady pipeline of skilled labour and promoting economic resilience.

“The economic success of Switzerland, and of Bühler, is closely linked to the dual education system. It ensures a steady pipeline of skilled workers, aligns education with industry needs, and strengthens innovation power,” said Sonja Studer, Head of Education at Swissmem, the national association for mechanical and electrical industries.

Scaling education globally

Bühler has been training apprentices for over 110 years, starting in 1915. Today, it supports more than 520 apprentices worldwide, with 40% of them based outside Switzerland.

The company runs training hubs in Germany, Austria, the U.S., South Africa, India, Brazil, and the Czech Republic, among others.

In the United States, Bühler’s Apprentice Academies in North Carolina and Minnesota combine community college coursework with on-the-job training. Graduates earn associate degrees and journeyman certificates, often transitioning directly into full-time roles.

“The US urgently needs scalable, cost-effective workforce development models. The Swiss dual education system is a proven solution: it is affordable, delivers high-quality skills, and creates direct pathways into qualified jobs,” said Tracy Bayer, Head of HR North America at Bühler.

Bühler’s approach works with industry bodies such as Swissmem and the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN), governments, and local communities to adapt its training model to regional needs.

Through this collaborative model, Bühler aims to strengthen industrial ecosystems, not just fill its own talent pipeline.

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